The 18th day of Elul, which starts a 12-day countdown till Rosh Hashana (see lead article), is also the anniversary of:
  • the birth of the Baal Shem Tov (articles #2-3, 7) and of the Baal HaTanya (#4, 7)
  • the yahrzeit of the Maharal of Prague
  • as well as the date on which the Besh"t revealed the Chasidic movement, in 1734
  • and in addition, the yahrzeit of the great Maharal of Prague in 1609.
The story (final article) connects the two birthday giants.